Tentering machine



June 8,1926. 1,587,896

H. W. BUTTERWORTH. JR

TENTERlNG MACHINE:

Filed March 28, 19256 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-7'11.

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June 8 1926. 1,587,896

H. W. BUTTERWORTH. JR

TENTERING MACHINE Filed March 28 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY I Patented June 8, 1926. i

UNITED STATES PATEN'TOFFICE.

HARRY W. BUTTERWORTH, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASTSIGNORTO H. W. BUTTERWOBTH 8c SONS COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TENTERING- MACHINE.

Application filed March 28, 1923. Serial No. 628,189. 3' I My invention has for its object the provision of an improved means for adjusting the tension of the chains of clamps on the longitudinal reciprocating or fixed members of a tentering machine, whereby the in1t1al tension desired may be secured and subsequently further adjustment be made from time to time to compensate for lost motion due to wear of the hinge joints between the cloth clamps.

The invention is applicable to the general construction of tentering machines in common practice and reference is made to Letters Patent No. 606,780, dated July 5, 1898, by way of example, of such a machine as the improvements herein are adapted. It Wlll, therefore, not be necessary to illustrate the invention, except as applied to one of the reciprocating frames upon which the chaln of clamps is supported.

My object is further to provide a yielding tension for the stretched chains of clamps, whereby any expansion or contraction of the long reciprocating or fixed members, or any looseness due to wear, may be automatically compensated for and the chains of clamps be normally maintained in working condition under proper tension.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will be more fully understood from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel construction of tentering machine, as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawing: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a longitudinal reciprocating member of a tentcring machine together with its chain of cloth clamps and embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of one endof the said longitudinal reciprocating members, but with the clamps removed; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4.-t of Fig. 1.

As this invention is applicable to all classes of tentering machines and relates specificallv to the means for maintaining the endless chains of cloth clamps under working tension, it will suiiice for the disclosure of the invention that the improvement be illustrated in respect to one of the longitudinal rleeiprocating or fixed frames of the manne.

2 represents such a frame and may be of any length desired. At one end of the frame, a vertical driving shaft 7 carrying a sprocket wheel 3 is provided, the latter rotating in a horizontal plane close to the upper surface of the frame. The other end of the frame 2 is provided with a longitudinal slot 10 having the upper portion of its sides rabbetted to provide depressed grooves 11. Sliding in the slotted portion 10 is a frame 9 having lateral flanges 12 at its upper portion which rest in the grooves 11 of the side walls of the slotted portion to support the said sliding frame 9 against downward movement. This frame 9 is provided with an uprightpin or stud 8 upon which is journaled the sprocket wheel 4. Extending about the sprocket wheels 3 and 4 is an endless'chain of cloth clamps 5 which may be of any of the usual constructions, said chain of clamps being guided along angle iron guides 6 secured to the ripper surface of frame2 adjacent to its sides, said guides supporting the cloth clamp against downward movement or sagging and having vertical flanges for sustaining the clamps against lateral strain as when stretching the cloth held thereby during the operation of the machine. If desired, channel irons may be used instead of angle irons 6.

The sliding frame 9 is provided with a transverse slot 13 in which is arranged a nut 1.4:. through which is screwed a shaft 15, said shaft having screw threads 16 at one end for connection with the nut and having a rigid collar 17 and an operating hand wheel 19 at its other and outer end. The threaded end 16 passes freely through apertures 18 in the frame 9 and may be supported therein. secured to the end of the longitudinal frame 2 and bridging theopen end of the slot 10 therein. This bridging frame- 20 is provided with a guide aperture 25 through which the shaft 15 extends with freedom of rotation. 22 is a coil spring surrounding the shaft 15 and having one end resting against the frame 20 and the other end resting on a collar 21. loosely surrounding the shaft 15,

said collar receiving the thrust of the spring 22 and itself resting against the shaft collar 17 arranged near its outer end. I prefer that the diameter of the spring 22 shall be considerably larger than the shaft 15 and sus- 20 is a bearing bridging frame tained at its ends by recessed or cupped parts 23 in bearing frame 20 and 2& in collar 21, as shown, to position it clear of the shaft.

It wil no be und sto d t a by rotatg th shaft 15,, he fram 9 it s sprocket wheel 4 will be adjusted longitudinally or along the length ofthe vfrmne 2 in either direction desired, to take up any slack in the endless chain of cloth clamps 5 and at the same time to provide therefor a Spring tension which may be adjusted to any strength'found most eflicient. In this connection, itis to be understood that there should be no looseness in the chain of clamps, as that would produce defective action upon the fabric by uneven stretching; and yet excessive tension must not be put on the chain of clamps 'as that'would make the machine hard to operate, and produce objectionable wear in the link joints and upon the bearing for sprocket wheel 4:. By use of my improvement all of these objections are overcome and a smooth running machine is secured and at the same time perfect treatment of the fabric throughout its length is insured. 7

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is ;1. A longitudinal reciprocating frame member for a tentering machine having a longitudinalguideway at one end, combined with a horizontally rotating sprocket wheel and a ver ical shaft therefor arranged at the otherend of the said frame member, a separate shding'frame guided in the guide way of the longitudinal frame member and below the'upper surface thereof, said slid ing frame having an upright journalstud and lateral flanges guided in the guidevvay of the frame member to prevent downward movement therein while permitting longitudinal adjustmen a horizontally rota-table sprocket wheel loosely journaled upon the stud, an endless chain of horizontally movable cloth clamps moving in a horizontal plane and extending about the two sprocket wheels, and an adjustable spring tension deyice for the longitudinal frame member arranged at a lower level than the stud and sprocket wheel of the sliding frame and comprising a longitudinal screw shaft hav ing one end threaded and in engagement with the sliding frame at a point below the stud and sprocket wheel thereof, a coil spring arranged about the screw shaft and directly between the end of the longitudinal frame member and other end of said shaft whereby the sliding frame together with the sprocket wheel and endless chain of cloth clamps may be maintained under adjusted yielding tension, and means for guiding the screw shaft on the end of the longitudinal frame at a pointbetween its con nection with the sliding frame and the coil spring. I

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the guideway on the frame member extends longitudinally to the end of said frame and is provided at its upper part with side grooves for receiving the flanged portions of the sliding frame, and the means for guiding the screw shaft at the open end of the guideway is formed as a bridge which also acts as a supportfor the coil spring.

3, The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the sliding frame is provided with a transverse slot at a distance below its stud, a loose nut is fitted in said slot, the threaded end of the screw shaft is loosely guided through the sliding frame and engaging the loose nut, and means on the end of the screw threaded shaft is provided for rotating it and other means is provided acting as a thrust bearing for the thrust exerted by the outer end of the coil spring.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

HARRY W. BUTTERWORTH, J It, 

